Well, when I ride, I am hunched over a bit. My bars break towards the rider about 6 - 8 " out so you don't reach for them as bad. I have seen straight drag bars and tey were even more uncomfortable than mine. When I did the Doofapalooza in Colorado last summer, it wasn't my back that really gave me problems, it was that hard a$$ seat...I was so saddle sore...I had basically just got the seat and the leather is a thick grain leather so it was not broken in yet, by the end of the trip it was...But my a$$ was broke too! COMFORT? It's all about being cool man...Just sayin'